A new national survey finds overwhelming support for public libraries and the services they provide, reinforcing what library professionals across Kentucky see every day: public libraries remain vital resources for the communities they serve.
The 2026 Knight Foundation-NORC Survey on Public Libraries found that 93% of American adults consider their local public library either an essential or valuable public service, including 63% who describe it as essential.
The survey also found strong support across every age, race, political affiliation, and income group measured.
“For generations, Kentucky’s public libraries have been places where people come to learn, grow, connect, and discover new opportunities,” said King Simpson, Chair of the Kentucky Public Library Association and Executive Director of the Logan County Public Library. “What is especially encouraging about this research is that, even as the ways people use libraries continue to evolve, Americans recognize just how important their public libraries remain. From our largest cities to our smallest communities, Kentucky libraries are meeting people where they are and providing resources that make a meaningful difference in their lives.”
Conducted by NORC in partnership with the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the survey examined not only whether Americans trust libraries, but also the value they place on libraries as public services within their communities.
Among the findings:
• 93% of adults view their local public library as an essential or valuable public service.
• 63% describe their local public library as an essential public service.
• 81% value libraries for providing access to books, media, and information.
• Two-thirds or more see high value in other library services, including internet access, classes, and community space.
• 62% say their local public library is extremely or very valuable to their community, with another 30% describing it as somewhat valuable.
• 93% believe cuts to their local public library budget would have an impact on their community, including 45% who say the impact would be major.
The findings reflect a role that has expanded considerably beyond the traditional perception of libraries as places primarily for books. Across Kentucky, public libraries provide access to technology and high-speed internet, educational programming, workforce and career resources, meeting and community spaces, early childhood learning opportunities, and countless other services shaped by the needs of the communities they serve.
“Public libraries have always evolved alongside their communities,” said Heather Dieffenbach, Immediate Past Chair of the Kentucky Public Library Association and Executive Director of the Lexington Public Library. “Books and access to information will always be at the heart of what we do, but today’s library is also a place to connect to technology, develop new skills, prepare for a career, bring children to learn and explore, and simply be part of a community. This survey is a powerful reminder that even as libraries continue to evolve, the value people place on them remains remarkably strong.”
The Knight Foundation noted that public libraries have consistently ranked among America’s most trusted institutions, even as trust in many other civic institutions has declined. The new research sought to look beyond trust and better understand how Americans view the practical value of libraries and their services.
For the Kentucky Public Library Association, the findings offer a national snapshot of something experienced every day in libraries throughout the Commonwealth: while individual communities and their needs may differ, public libraries continue to serve as accessible, welcoming places where Kentuckians can find information, resources, opportunities, and connection.
Kentucky Public Library Association